2 Samuel 10 – “David Defeats the Ammonites and Arameans”

Hebrew-English TextI. Summary
David sends courtiers to the king of Ammon and they are publicly humiliated. David assembles his army and routs the Ammonite and the Aramean armies.

II. Photo
David’s courtiers are humiliated: “Hanun seized David’s courtiers, clipped off one side of their beards and cut away half of their garments at the buttocks, and sent them off.” (v. 4)

III. Important Verses
2b-5: But when David’s courtiers came to the land of Ammon, the Ammonite officials said to their lord Hanun, “Do you think David is really honoring your father just because he sent you men with condolences? Why, David has sent his courtiers to you to explore and spy out the city, and to overthrow it.” So Hanun seized David’s courtiers, clipped off one side of their beards and cut away half of their garments at the buttocks, and sent them off. When David was told of it, he dispatched men to meet them, for the men were greatly embarrassed. And the king gave orders: “Stop in Jericho until your beards grow back; then you can return.”
9-12: Joab saw that there was a battle line against him both front and rear. So he made a selection from all the picked men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans, and the rest of the troops he put under the command of his brother Abishai and arrayed them against the Ammonites. [Joab] said, “If the Arameans prove too strong for me, you come to my aid; and if the Ammonites prove too strong for you, I will come to your aid. Let us be strong and resolute for the sake of our people and the land of our God; and the LORD will do what He deems right.”
19: And when all the vassal kings of Hadadezer saw that they had been routed by Israel, they submitted to Israel and became their vassals. And the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites any more.

IV. Outline
1-2a. David sends courtiers to the king of Ammon
2b-4. The Ammonite king humiliates the courtiers
5. David deals with the courtiers
6-12. The armies prepare for war
13-14. Joab and Abishai lead the Israelites to victory
15-16. The enemy regroups
17-19. David is victorious